Buckle applying machine



March 3, 1942.

G. E. KLOCK ETAL BUCKLE APPLYING MACHINE 4 shets-sh'eet l Filed April 13, 19:59

@f @mi @olv-Lof March 3, 1942. y G. E. KLocK x-:rAL

BUCKLE APPLYING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April efzfzeZ Q6 y' ma G. E. KLOCK ET AL BUCKLE APlfLfIlfI'r MACHINE Mach 3, 1942.'

Filed April 13, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 EEE- cov March 3, 1942. G, E, KLOCK E1-AL 2,274,795

-BUCKLE APPLYING MACHINE Filed April 13, 1939 4 SheelZS-She'l 4.

lu 1F d5 "MII Patented Mar. 3, 1942 BUCKLE APPLYING MC'HINE George E. Klock and Kenneth J. Harwood,

Neenah, Wis., assignors to International Cellucotton Products CompanyChicago, Ill., a corn poration of Delaware Application April 13, 193i), Serial No. 267,735

' sclaims. lgel. 22a-49) l the strap or elastic to which it is to be attached Our invention relates to apparatus for facilitating the attaching of slide buckles or the like to the straps, tape, or elastic with which those buckles are ordinarily used. Y

Heretofore most slide buckles have been attached by hand, and. while this method is reasonably satisfactory for the larger size buckles, it is not fully satisfactory for small bucklesssuch as are used on sanitary belts, the straps of womens lingerie, and the like. buckles diicult to handle because of their size, but when supplied open, whichis practically a necessity for hand attachment, they have a tendency to become entangled one with another, with the result that large amountsof time are expended in getting the buckles ready for use.. The principal object of our invention, therefore, is to provide an automatic or semi-automatic machine for attaching slide buckles, particularly slide buckles of the smaller sizes, to they straps, tape, or elastic with which such buckles are used.

Other objects and the various advantages of our invention will be made moreapparent by reference to the accompanying drawings and the following description of one preferred errnbodiment thereof. In the drawings- Figure l is a side elevational view, partially in section, of a buckle-attaching machine in accordance with ourl invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a slide buckle `of the general type which the machine of our invention is particularly adapted to apply;

Figures 3, 4, and 5 are perspective views illustrating certain of the operations followed inapplying buckles by the machine of our invention;

` Figure 6 is a perspective View illustrating one convenient method of handling buckles of the general type illustrated in Figures 2 tov 5;v

Figure 7 is a front, elevational view, partially in section, on the line 1 1 of Figure 1;

Figures 8 and 9 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views illustrating the operation of the buckle feeding mechanism;

` Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the operating means for the buckle feeding mechanism;

Not only are these fi Figure 11 is an enlarged sectional View on the immediately prior to the' buckle closing operation;` Figure 16 is a fragmentary sectional view, generally similar to Figure 12, illustrating the operationof the buckle closing mechanism;

Figure 17 is a perspective view, partially in section, whichillustrates particularly certain of the features of `the buckle feeding and closing mechanisms; and

Figure 18 is a perspective View, partially in section, of the buckle supply magazine. Y

The buckle applying machine illustrated in the drawings includes a` magazine for holding a supply of buckles, means for-feeding buckles in sequence from the magazine to av working position,

means for securely holding each buckle so fed i at said working position, means for opening eachbuckle after it is moved to the working position to permit its being applied to the strap or elastic with which it is to be used, and means for then reclosing the buckle. The machine is particularly designed for applying slide buckles of the vconventional type, that is, buckles having the generalshape of a flattened :ligure eighty as illustratedin Figure 2, and for reasons which will hereinafter appear, it is desirable that the'central bar portion of the buckles supplied to the machine shall be split or atleast deeply'scored in order to facilitate the'opening thereof.

Ihe buckle magazine is illustrated particularly in Figures 17 and 18-and comprises an elongated, hollow body I9 which terminates at its lower 'end in an enlarged, square sided base 2|v adapted ,l to rest upon a U-shaped member 23v which serves asrthe frame of the buckle feeding mechanism, the frame 23 being rigidly attachedas by welding to a metallic plate 25 which serves as thev main frame of the machine. The magazine is removable as a unit, and to insure its proper positioning with respect to the other elements of the buckle feeding mechanism, the base portion 2| thereof is provided' with suitable openings 21 (Figure 18) for engaging dowel pins 29 extending upwardly from the frame 23. The cross sectional dimensions of the central passageway 3| within the magazine are such that the edges of the buckleswill 'engage the inner walls of the magazine with a sliding t.

plishing even feeding of the buckles from the magazine, a weight of suitable type, for eX- ample a cylindrical metal rod as illustrated at` To aid in accomillustrated in Figures l and '7, and a pivotedlatchs ing member 45 is provided for engaging this crank 43 to latch the clip 31 in the magazine supporting position of Figure 1'7. The clip 31 and its associated supportI and latching means constitute a convenient means for releasably holding the magazine in cooperative relation with the buckle.

feeding means. When it is necessary to refill or replace themagazine, all that need be done is tio release the latch 45, rotate the clip supporting shaft 39 in a counterclockwise direction (Figure 17) ,c and lift the magazine bodily out of the machine.

For convenience in loading the magazine, itis desirable that the buckles shall be supplied strung on a strip or cob of fiber 49, as illustrated in Figure 6. While still held on the ber strip, the buckles are placed in proper position within the magazine, the end of the strip which projects from the bottom of the magazine is torn off, and the remainder of the strip is withdrawn from the top of the magazine, the buckles Abeing, held inthe magazine by the inwardly projecting vedges ofthe plates 35.

lnckles'are fed in sequence from the lower end of the magazine to the working position (illus.- trated in Figures 11, 1 2, and 16) by means of a reciprocating plunger 41 which moves within va rectangularly shaped guideway 49 formed bythe upstanding side of the Alvl-shaped frame 2310i the feeding mechanism. Ilfhe plunger 4] is held within the guideway 49; by a suitable. lemslyable plate 5l. For convenience in operation, the buckle feeding mechanism isA arranged tube ctur. ated in response to sidewise movement of a downwardly extending lever 55 providedl atits. lower end with a pad 51 adapted to be engaged bythe knee o f the operatcr. 'I his knee lever 55 is,v supported for rotatable movement about a horizontal axis by a shaft 59jA journaled cat eitherl, end in suit: able supporti bearings I` affixed to the base 63 of the machine (seeFigure 1). u i

Also supported upon, and keyedI-toLtheshaft. 59 is a second downwardly*extending-lever, Q5 which connects at its lower endto one end of a link 61.` The other en d of the link 51 engages la The buckle feeding plunger 41 is` biased vto....`

ward the normal retracted position thereof illustrated in Figures 8, l1, and 17 by two springs 8.1.

each of which is attached at one end to` the cross.

head 19 and at the other end to a suitable st amember 84 is provided for fixing the limit of rearward motion of the buckle feeding plunger 41 and for preventing displacement of the cross head 19 by the springs 8l. This member 84 is I-sliaped and the cross head 19 is recessed, as illustrated at 84a, for engaging the central or guide portion thereof.

The buckle feeding plunger 41 is-provided at its cuter end with a recess or notch 85 of substantially the same depth as the thickness of the buckles which are to be fed thereby, and the proportions of the apparatus are such that when the plunger 41 is in the normal retracted position this recess 85 will be located immediately beneath the central opening 3l within the magazine. Byvirtue of this arrangement, forward movement of the plunger 41 will cause the lowermost buckleto beseparated from the stack Within the magazine and carried forward to the working position. v

` The buckleis.guidedinthismovement from the magazine. to.. the `working,position Vby a. gudewav 81 formedinthe undersurface of the magazine base 2| and by a connecting guideway which is defined by two opposed slots 3 1a formedintwo guide plates B9 andi) l, which are mounted on the U-shaped frame 23 of the feeding mechanism. Forthe purpose of .holding each bucklev in the working position at the `conclusionof eachffeed; ing operation.. theguide. plate 9 I is; pvotally s11112- DOlled. Oll the., frame. 2.3,. by a Wllal. PVO. Din and is resilientlynbiased towardf the other guide plate. 89. by s. suitable loop spring 91: -(Fie11..r.es. llandl). Y

During each b.. vskle. feeding operation. the plunger, lllV will be moved: from its.. normalmetrastedpositlon illustrated in Feures andino the feeding position` illustrated. in Figures-9; and 10 ;i n response t0- msvemsnt i 21?I the knee. lever). 5.5 from the positron illustrated in dotted Figure. 1.0: to thepesiton illustrated 11.1 full--in that -gure As explainedabove, this movement 0f: thebbuskle feeding'. plusser 41- will move. @ne

ofthe buckles. fromA the magazine .tOA-theworlsine; position. adjacent the-outer end of theguileway formed bythe guideslcts 81a, and ther esilient support; fer theauide. member!! l' assures tha-1' :the buckle WillA be heldin that working `-positicrny The buckles are placed in the magazine in such manner that the opposed end portions of eachbucklewillbe engaged by the guide-slets 8 1;

and Blaas illustratedinFigureslband 1,1, dur-ki ing the Afeeding operation. `At the completign of the-.feedingoperatiom the operator will release the knee 'leverI 55, whereupon thev springl willmember Il rigidly ailiXedto. thebed plate-.Zlby- The buckle. openingcap screws l33`or the like. c plunger 99 is biased downwardto.-thefnorrnal or retracted position by means of a-compressiong spring I 95, one end ofwhichabutsagainstvthe under YsurfaceV ofi-the guide-1G15, and the other; end of whichabuts against a .suitable headm'ernber H31 keyed to the lower end-of the plunger.

A footv treadle vl Q9 is; provided: for operatingthe.- buckle Opening mechanism.; this -treadlerbeing mechanically' cnnctedr to the r plunger: 9s by;

- slipped into the open buckle.

means'of three link members III, ||2, and ||3. The link member |I2 is pivotally supported on the base 03' by a suitable bracket support illustrated at ||5 in Figure 1. The lower end of the link is connected to the treadle |09 through an adjustable collar ||1 whereby only counterclockwise (Figure 1) movement of the treadle |09 will be communicated to the buckle opening mechanism. It is desirable that the apparatus shall include an adjustable stop such as is illustrated at H9 in Figure 1 for determining the lower limit of motion of the buckle opening plunger 99 under the influence of the biasing spring |05.

The proportions and relative positioning of the buckle feeding and buckle opening mechanisms areso correlated that th`e axis of movement of the buckle opening plunger 99^will intersect the central bar portion of each buckle located in the working position at substantially the mid point of that member. Thus, whenthe treadle |09 is moved counter-clockwise from the normal position illustrated in Figure 1, the buckle opening plunger 99 will be moved upwardly from its no rmal retracted position (illustrated in Figures 8 and 9) to the position illustrated in Figures 12 and 13. During this movement, the wedge shaped head of the plunger will open the buckle which has previously been moved to the working position by thereby bending the two.

halves ||0 of the central bar portion of the buckle from the position illustrated in Figure 2 to the position illustrated in Figure 3. The central bar portion of the buckles illustrated in the drawings is severed or scored at the mid portion thereof in order to facilitate the opening thereof. It will be understood, however, that the location of the split or scored portion is to some extent optional, and the apparatus of our invention contemplates the use of other central bar arrangements.

At the conclusion of the buckle opening operation, the buckle is in the state illustrated in Figure 3 and is in position to receive the strap, tape, elastic, or other material to which the buckle is to be applied. A length of this material is looped to Vform the desired construction, a common form of which is illustrated in Figure 15, and the overlying portions are squeezed together to a form having a cross section similar to an inver-ted U, as illustrated in Figure 4, and then When released by theoperator, the overlying portion of the elastic or other material will spread out within the buckle and become flat as illustrated in Figure 15. The buckle is then ready to be reclosed.

In order to assure that buckles shall not become displaced during the buckle applying o'peration, the machine includes a vertically movable latch or stop I4 which is automatically operable to close the outer end of the slots 81a which define the buckle guideway during the applying operation. The latch or stop H4 is positioned within a suitable guide passageway I5 formed in the member |9|, and the lower end thereof is threaded for receiving a cylindrical head ||1. This head ||1 is so positioned, as illustrated in Figure 12, that it will be engaged by the head |01 of the buckle opening plunger 99n during each upward movement of that member, and the latch or stop H4 will thereby be moved automatically from its normal position, illustrated in Figures 1 and 17, to the buckle retaining position of Figures 12 and 14. To prevent the buckle latch I4 from moving downwardly when the buckle opening plunger 99 is restored to its'normal position at the conclusion of the buckle opening operation, that member may be provided with friction holding springs ||9 which engage suitable slots |20 formed in the body portion of the latch.

After each buckle applying operation, it is necessary to reclose the buckle by bending back the central bar portions from the open'position of Figures 4 and 15 to the normal closed position of Figure 5. /The mechanism for accomplishing the reclosing of the buckle includes a cylindrical plunger |2|' supported on the U- shaped frame 4| for reciprocating movement along a vertical axis. VThe lower end |23 of the buckle closing plunger |2| is preferably wedge shaped,as illustrated in Figure 17, and the upper end of the buckle closing plunger 2| is provided with an adjustable collar |25 for retaining a compression spring |21 which serves` to bias the plunger to its normal upward position. The limit of upward movement of the plunger |2| under'the influence of this biasing spring is determined by a second adjustable collar |29.

The buckle closing plunger |2| is mechanically connected to the treadle |09 by a tie link |3|` and main operating link |33 pivotally supported intermediate its ends on thevU-shaped frame 4| by a pivot |35. The main operating link |33 is of bifurcated construction, as illustrated particularly in Figures '1 and 17, in order that it will not interfere with the removal and replacing of the buckle magazine, and the tie link |3| is connected to the treadley |09 through `an adjustable collar |31 so located that only clockwise movement (Figure 1) of the treadle |09 willnbe transmitted to the buckle closing mechanism. The path of movement of the head |23of the buckle closing plunger |2| preferably intersects the path of movement of the head of the buckle opening plunger 99 at a point coincident with the mid point of the central bar portion of a buckle located in the working position, as illustrated in Figure 16. This assures that proper reclosing of the buckle will follow each operation of the buckle opening mechanism. The collar |29 is provided with an extension |39 which engages the latch or stop |4 during each downward movement of the buckle closing plunger |2I, as illustrated in Figure 16, thereby causing the latch ||3 to be restored automatically to its normal position following each buckle closing operation.

If the central bar portion of the buckles used in connection with the machine of our invention is provided with serrated edges, as illustrated at |40 in Figures 2 and 15, it will usually be found unnecessary to apply a clip to the short end |4| (Figure 15) of the elastic or strap with which the buckle is used for preventing the strap from being drawn through the buckle. The obviating of the use of this clip, which is an essential feature of the prior art arrangements, is an important feature of the present invention, and is believed to result, atleast in part, from the positive and accurate opening and reclosing of the buckle which is effected by the machine of our invention.

From the foregoing it Will be seen that we have improved type `of magazine for holding the buckles which are to be so applied, an improved eihcient mechanism for feeding these buckles in sequence from the magazine` to a working'V position, novel means for 'securely holding each buckle moved to the working position throughout the working period, an improved ecient mechanism for opening buckles located in the working position to permit them to be readily applied to the strap or elastic, and an improved efficientV mechanism for reclosing each buckle after it has been so applied.

A particularly important feature of the machine of our invention is the mechanical arrangement which automatically returns all of the parts tonormal operative position following each operation. The buckle opening plunger 99 and the buckle closing plunger I2I are continuously biased to their respective normal position, and this biasing action is transmitted through the collars H1 and |31 to hold the treadle |09 in its normal intermediate position. Similarly, the means which biases the buckle feeding plunger to its normal retracted position also biases the knee operating lever 55 for the feeding mechanism to the normal position ofv that mechanism.

It will be-apparent to those skilled in the art kthat various mechanisms may be devised embody.-

ing the principles disclosed in the foregoing. Accordingly, it is our desire that the accompanying claims shall be accorded the broadest reasonable construction consistent with the language appearing therein and the prior art.

We claim the following asour invention: k

l. In a machine of the class described, a magazine for holding a plurality of buckles, a guide- Way, means actuable to move buckles in sequence from said magazine to a working position along said guideway, means for opening buckles located in said working position comprising a reciprocating plunger member, the axis of movement of which intersects the central bar portion of each buckle located in said working position, and means for reclosing buckles opened by said buckle opening means comprising a second reciprocating plunger, the axis of movement of which likewise intersects the central bar portion of buckles held in said working posi-tion.

2. In a machine of the class described, a magazine for holding a plurality of buckles, a guideway, means actuable to move buckles in sequence from said magazine to a working position along said guideway, resilient means for releasably holding each buckle moved to said working position, means for opening buckles located in said working position comprising a reciprocating plunger member, the axis of movement of which intersects the central bar portion of each buckle located in said working position, and means for reclosing buckles opened by said buckle opening means comprising a second reciprocating plunger, the axis of movement of which likewise, intersects the central bar portion of buckles held in said working position.

3. In a machine of the class described, a magazine for holding a plurality of buckles, meansl actuable to move buckles in sequence from said magazine to a working position spaced some dis-A tion to closel said buckle byrestoring said centrai.' bar portion to. a normal closed position.

4. In a machine of the class described, a magazinefor holding a plurality of buckles, a guideway, means-actuable to move buckles insequence fromA said' magazine to a working position along said guideway, means for releasably holding each buckle somoved: in saidvworking position, an operating` member movablefrom a normal intermediate position to either of two extreme positions, means including a reciprocating plunger actuable in response to movement of said operating member from said intermediate position to one extreme position to open a buckle located in said working position by bending the central bar portion. thereof, and means including a second reciprocating plunger actuable in response to movement of said operating member from said intermediate position to said other vextreme position to close said buckle by restoring said central bar portion to-a normal closed position.

r5. In amachine of the class described, a magazine for` holding a plurality of buckles, means actuable to move buckles in sequence from said magazine toa working position, means for releasably holding each buckle so moved in said working position, means for opening buckles located in said working position comprising a re.. ciprocating plunger member, the axis of movement of which intersects the central bar portion ofv` each buckle located in said working position, means for reclosing buckles opened b-y said buckle opening means comprising a second reciprocating plunger, the axis of movement of which likewise intersects the central bar portion of buckles held in said Working position, and a common actuating means for said buckle opening and said buckle closing means comprising a treadle movable-fromv a normal intermediate position to one extreme position to operate said buckle opening means and from said intermediate position to an opposite extreme position to operate said` buckle closing means.

6. In a machine of theclass described, a magazine for holding a plurality of buckles, a guideway, meansfor moving buckles in sequence from said magazine to a working position along said guideway, a Yknee lever movable from a normal inoperative position `to an operative position to actuate said buckle moving means, means for opening buckles located in said Working position comprising a reciprocating plunger member, the axis of. movement of which intersects the central bar portion of each buckle located in said working position, means for reclosing buckles opened4 by said buckle opening means comprising a second reciprocating plunger, the axis of movement ofwhich likewise intersects the central bar portion of each buckle held in said working position,

and a common actuating means for said buckle,

opening and said buckle closing means comprising/atreadle movable from a normal intermediate position to one extreme position to operate said buckle opening means and from said intermediateV position to an opposite eXtreme position to operate said buckle closing means.

7. In a machine of the class described, a magazine for' holding a plurality of buckles, a guideway, means actuable to move buckles in sequence from said magazine to a Working position along said guideway, means Acomprising a reciprocating plunger actuable to open a buckle located in said Working position by bending the central bar portion thereof, latch means actuable in response to movement of said buckle kopening plunger to sition by bending the central bar portion thereof, latch means movable in response to movement of said buckle opening plunger from said normal position to said extended position to close the outer end of said guideway and thereby prevent Withdrawal of said open buckle from said guide- Way, and means including a second reciprocating plunger movable from a normal retracted position to an extended position to close buckles held in said Working position and to move said latch means away from the end of said guideway.

KENNETH J. HARWOOD. GEORGE E. KLOCK. 

